Traction-engine



(Nb ModeL) D. LIPPY 8: J. B. ROUSH.

Traction Engine.

No. 230,297. Patented July 20,1880.

\Nz'inesaes I I [11116711151 7' I W jg I NJETERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER,WASHXNGYON D C UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQZEQ DAVID LIPPY AND JACOB B.HOUSE, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,297, dated July'20, 1880.

Application filed April 3, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DAVID LIPPY and JACOB B.ROUSH, of Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Traction- Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

The invention relates to an improvement in traction-engines and itconsists in the devices hereinafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide an efficient means for causingthe boiler of the engine to assume a horizontal position whether itscarriage is passing up or down hill or traveling upon alevel plane. Thedevices regulating the position of the boiler are actuated by theengine-shaft, and are under the full control of the attendant.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of an engine containing an embodiment of theelements of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of same. Fig. 3 is asection showing the gearing within the boiler, with a detached side viewof the pinion k and rack m.

A indicates the boiler, having the usual firebox at its rear end, andmounted upon the wheels B, those atthe rear beingrigidly secured and theforward ones being pivotallymounted, so as to permit the engine to bereadily turned when desired.

D represents the engine-shaft, which drives the devices constituting ourinvention. This shaft is, in the present instance, mounted transverselyover the front part of the boiler A, and has upon one end the clutch-boxa, one half, I), being loosely secured and provided with a sheave-wheel,61, while the other half, 6, is mounted upon a feather and may becontrolled as to its movement by the lever j, which affords a meanswhereby the attendant may cut off the action of the engine-shaft fromthe remaining mechanism or transmit said action to the said mechanism,as may be desired.

Forward of the end of the shaft I) and a little to one side of theclutch-box a, is secured upon the stand E the pulley-wheel h, and justforward of the stand E is secured another stand, H, in which is mountedthe vertical shaft I. Upon the lower end of the shaftI is. secured aworm, t, which meshes with the pinion j, mounted upon the end of theshaft 16, whichshaft passes through the front end of the boiler at aboutits horizontal transverse center, and is supplied centrally within thesame with the pinion Z. This pinion meshes with the rack in, secured toor made a part of the vertical roda, which extends upward within theboiler, and has its lower end connected with the axle of the frontwheels, B, by a balland-socket joint, or otherwise. When the shaft isrevolved the pinion leither rides up or down the rack m,-according tothe direction in which it is turned, and in this way either elevates ordepresses the front end of the boiler.

Upon the upper end of the shaft I are mounted, so as to turn thereon,the two sheave-wheels p, which are separated a suitable distance,and'are supplied upon their sides facing each other with the clutches 8,one being a right and the other a left clutch. Between these clutches sis mounted, upon the shaft I, the double clutch-box t, the teeth uponthe upper side of which are adapted to engage the upper clutch s and theteeth upon the lower side the lower clutch s. The clutch t is capable ofbeing moved either toward or from either clutch s, and is mounted upon afeather connected with the shaft I. Thus when the clutch is revolved theshaft will be operated also in the same direction. If the clutch t isengaged with the upper clutch s,it will be revolved with the same, andthe shaft I will have the same movement. When the clutch t is operatedby the lower clutch s it will re- 4 volve in the reverse direction andcommunicate alike movement to the shaft 1. The clutch t is moved eithertoward or from either clutch s by the angle-arm a and weight orcounterpoise w, according as the boiler is inclined upward or downward.The angle-arm a is pivotally secured in front of the shaft I, and hasone of its arms loosely connected with the clutch t, the other armhaving attached thereto the weight 10. .When the boiler is inclinedupward the weight w, in seeking a perpendicular position, forces theclutch tnp against the upper clutch s, and when the boiler is inclineddownward the weight, again seekingalevel, carries, through the angle-arma, the clutch t down in contact with the lower clutch 3.

An endless chain, 00, is placed on the wheel h and the wheels (1 p forthe purpose of imparting motion to the different elements of themachine.

hen the en gine-shaft D is in operation the clutches and chain may beheld idle by simply disengaging the halves of the clutchbox a, oritsmovemen t may be communicated to the said device by connecting the saidhalves.

WVhen the halves of the clutch-box a are connected and the carriage istraveling on a level plane the chain and sheaves are in op eration andthe clutch t rests stationary midway between the clutches s, the shaft Ibeing also idle. But in case the carriage should start up an incline,the counterpoise 2v, seeking a perpendicular position, will force theclutch t in contact with the upper clutch s. This, as hereinbefore setforth, will operate the shaft I to revolve with the said clutch, whichmovement will cause the shaft It to revolve and the pinion lto ride downthe rack m, gradually lowering the front end of the boiler to a levelwith its rear end. In traveling down an incline the clutch t meshes withthe lower clutch s and operates the shaft I to revolve in a reversedirection, causing the pinion l to ride up the rack m, and thusgradually elevating the front end of the boiler to the same plane withits rear end.

In the balland-socket joint connecting the front axle, a, with the rod nthe ball I) is formed or secured upon the end of the rod n, and issmaller than the socket d, in order that when the front end of theboiler is at its lowest extremity the rod a may raise at least thelength of one cog, and the rack m and pinion Z be thereby pievented frombreaking at any sudden movement of the engine.

To the axle of the front wheelsyB, is secured one end of a rod, m, theother end of same being pivotally attached to the fire-box or rear ofthe boiler. The purpose of the rod m is to brace and secure the properoperation of the front axle and rod in The rear end of the rod m, beingpivotally secured, permits the front axle to be elevated or depressedwithout exerting a strain on the rod.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The clutch-box a and chain as, in combination with the clutches s andt, the shaft I,

shaft 70, and rod a, connected by intermediate gearing, substantially asspecified.

2. The clutches s and t and chain 01:, in com bination with the shaft Iand counterpoise 10, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The clutch'box a, sheave h, clutches .s' 1', and chain at, incombination with the shaft 1, counterpoise w, pinion j, shaft 7c, pinionZ, and rack m, substantially as set forth.

4. The rod n, having a rack, m, upon its face, and connected With theaxle of the front wheels, B, by a ball-and-socketjoint, the ball beingsufliciently smaller than the socket to allow the rod a verticalmovement equal to the length of one of the teeth on the rack m, incombination with the pinion Z, shaft k, pin ion j, worm i, shaft I, andsuitable gearing for giving the said shaft I either a right or leftmovement, substantially asset forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing improvement intraction-engines, as above described, we have hereunto set our handsthis 17th day of l\larch, 1880.

DAVID LIPPY. JAUOB B, IIOUSH.

Witnesses T. E. BARROW, Joli-IN BARNETT.

